Card-feed mechanism and method



H. B. SMITH CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD April 10, 1928.

Filed July 24,. 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I A TTORNE Y5 H. B. SMITH CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed July 24, 1923 April 10, 1928. 1,665,937

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR flurry 5 f/m't/l $21 M n w A TTOR NE ya April 10, 1928. 1,665,937

H. B. SMITH CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed July 24, 1923 '7 Sheet-Sheet 4 1N VENTOI? April 10, 1928. 1,665,937 H. B. SMITH F CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD Fil July 24 1 923 7 Sheets$heet 5 I ll [N VENTOR April 10, 1928.

1,665,937 H. B. SMITH CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD Filed July 24, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 A TTORNEYS .April 10, 1928.

H. B. SMITH CARD FEED MECHANISM AND METHOD '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 24, 923

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

warren STATES-PTENT o FF-icE.

HARRY BRIDGMAN SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO I-IOAGUE-SPRAGUE CORPORATION, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A GOR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CARDJFEED MECHANISM AND ,METHOIL.

Application filed Jul 24,

My inyention relates to mechanism. and methods for. separating and feeding individual cards or card-board blanks from a stack. While the sheet thickness may vary, the invention is especially adapted for the feeding of sheets or blanks of fibrous material of substantial thickness, suchfor instance, as cardboard or fibre board blanks suitable for box shells, and is therefore conveniently designated as card feed mechanism. I

In various classes of mechanism in the paper working art, cardboard blanks are arranged in stacks and it necessary to separate and feed individual blanks from the stack. Such feed mechanism may be em-- ployed, for example, for feeding blanks to blank cutting or creasing mechanism gluing mcchansim, assembly mechanism in which the cardboard blank is associated with a' paper blank to form a composite box blank,- or to blank conveying mechanism which carri the blank to box forming mechanism.- Difliculty has been experienced in these blank feedv mechanisms and especially those which handle cards, that is, blanks having more than ordinary paper thickness, in properly separating the bottom blank from an upright stack and properly advancing it without disturbing the next adjacent blank in the stack. This diiiiculty is emphasized by the fact'that cardboard blanks, when out from a web whch is drawn from a roll, are frequently warped in one direction, they are also frequently out form superposed sheets so that the edges of the individual blanks are more or less interlocked or stuck together in the multiple cutting operation, and especially in the case of blanks which are cornered, or slit to produce flaps or wings, the flaps or wings of adjacent blanks in the stack frequently inter= lock. In fill/Of these cases .theseparating and advancing devices heretofore employed frequently fail toseparate and advance the end blank at the proper time, or the blankis damaged in the act of separation oradvance, or it is only partly advanced and is inaccurately positioned in relation to subsequently actim; devices; and these inaccuracies er l ailures in the feeding operation se 1923. Serial No. 653,505.

provide mechanism which will accurately and positively separateand feedindividual cards, either fiator warped, of plain rectangular contour, or cornered or slit to provide flaps orwings 1n one or more edges... In a preferredorganization of the machine, ad-

vantage is taken of the curvature of warped blanks to separate and feed such blanks with great accuracy and practically no failure and the feed mechanism 'may therefore be advantageously employed in a great variety of a paper working ,machines. in which the accurate-supply of individual blanks at reg ular intervals without skips or; other failures is of great importance in. commercial production of box parts or other paper arr-- ticles... Y o

The organization of the machine is also such that it .eflj'ectively separates blanks which havetheir edges more or less intere locked or stuck together, and fiapped or winged'blanks in which the parts of adjacent blanks are more or less interlocked in the stack.

Another important object of the invention is to produce the stated and other desired results in a bottom feed mechanism which permits top stack replenishment- I v The characteristics and advantages of the invention are. further suflicietly explained in connect-ion with the following detail description of the accompanying drawings, which show certain. representative embodiments of the invention. After considering these embodiments, persons skilled in the art will understand that many variations vmay-be 1 made within the principles of the'invention,

and I contemplate the employment ofany structures that are properly within the-scope of theappended claims.

Figure 1 is. a plan view,-with some parts in section, of one representative feed mechanism embodying the invention, associated with an automatic box making machine.

Fi ure 2 is a front elevatiwief the same.

i ii Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section.

Figure l is an enlarged detail in longitudinal section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one typical blank.

Figure 6 is a section at 66 of Figure 5.

Figure is a section at 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a perspective positional or explanatory view.

Figure 9 is a front elevation, with some parts in section, of a modified form of feed mechanism associated in this case with a clifferent representative form of paper-handling or -working machine.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section of the same at 10-10, Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal tion at 1l11, Figure 10.

The feed mechanism may be designed as a part'of any one of a great variety of paper handling or paper working machines, or it may be'builtup practically a unit to be incorporated in or applied as an attachment to a particular paper handling orworking machine, or maybe designed an attachment suitable for a variety of such machines. As examples of such variations in the general plan or organization of the mechanism, Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, show the feed mechanism in one form as practically incorporated 111 the front end structure of an automatic box machine of the type disclosedin my Patent No. 1,479,401, January 1, 192%, although the feed mechanism might equally well be designed as a substantially self-contained unit and attached to the front end of such a machine or otherpaper handling or working machine; and Figure-5 9, wand 11 show the feed mechanism in a modified form associated with the framework and feed rolls of a paper handling machine which is representative of a great variety of mechanism in this art. In the latter case the feed mechanism, while not actually a self-contained unit, since it comprises base or frame members which are connected to the framework of the paper working machine to which it is attached, may obviously be arranged as a self-contained unit by providing a suitable base for the feed mechanism proper.

In the first representative form of the invention Figures 1 to 8 inclusive show the front ends 1 of side frame members of automatic box part assembling and forming machine of the type above referred to. These frame members support vertically movable tracks 2 on which a blank transfer carriage 3 is arranged to reciprocate. A box-shell or body-blank gripping head 1 is connected to the carriage, this head being provided on its lower face with stencil members 5 contoured in accordance with the outline of the blank. Means are also provided, suflieiently represented by the air FIG/C- tube 6, for exhausting air from the interior space of head at, which may be descriptively identified as a suction head, to assist in securing the blank to the lower head surface during blank transfer. supports a vertically immovable rack bar 7 which reciproeates in guides 8. A vertical, slotted bracket 9 is carried by the rack bar, carriage, 3 being provided with a roller 10 engaging in the bracket slot so that the carriage, is reeiprocated by the movements of the rack bar and may also rise and fall as rails 2 are raised and lowered, to properly position the suction head. Glue rolls 11 are provided in connection ith a 'tiltable glue pot 12, and the pot is tilted so that during advance of carriage 3 (toward the left in Figure 3), the under surfaces of stencil members 5 pass over one of the glue rolls and receive glue to be applied to margins of the blank when the blank comes in contact with the suction head, and in the case of a tight wrapped box, the under surface of the blank carried by the suction head moves over the other glue roll in the retreat of the carriage (toward the right, Figure The cardboard blank is then associated with a cover blank and the blank assembly is folded into box form by mechanism not shown herein.

As so far described the automatic box machine is substantially in accordance with the disclosure of the above mentioned patent.

In the box machine, as herein shown, rack bar 7 is driven b, a ear 13. mounted on a shaft which also urries a pinion 141, and the pinion is engaged by rack teeth cut on a rack bar 15 which slides in a guide 16 arranged to permit angular movement of the bar and to hold its teeth in contact with the pinion. The forward end of the rack bar is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 17, fulcrumed at 16 and provided with a cam roller 19 engaging a cam 'vc in av cam body 20. secured on the sl 3 I which is one of the main drive shafts of the box machine.

The framework also supports a table on which shell blanks are positioned by the feed mechanism presently to be described A representative shell blank B is shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3, positioned onthe table by the slide of the feed mechanism. Suction head l has been brought over the blank (Fig. 3) by the forward Tl'lOVGlDGHiI of the carriage, and during that movement the surfaces of the stencil strips 5 have been coated with adhesive. Rails 2 are new lowered and the head is brought in adhesive contact with the blank and suction is applied 'to secure the blank to the head; the rails The framework also lll) blank and is released from the suction head,: the carriage returns to the position shown in 1 Figure 3 and the operations are repeated. in definitely and in rapid sequence for the formation of a large number of boxes per minute. It is obviously important in a machine of this type that a shell blank shall be prop erly presented to the suction head in every cycle of the machine, not only to avoid loss of time and reduction of output due to'the failure to feed a blank in each cycle, but also because stencil surfaces of the suction head are glued, and glue is elsewhere present about the machine, and the failure to present and position a blank on the suction head properly results in improper gumming of parts of the mechanism, or the improper application of glue to a cover blank andadhesion of the latter to the suction head, or causes trouble and waste of time to clear away the'cover blank for which no shell blank has been presented, and to put the machine in proper condition for further operation.

The card or shell-blank feed mechanism is supported by a framework comprising side uprights 30 and cross members 31 and 32, and a central longitudinal box-like member' 33 having spaced vertical side walls E L. This framework may be arranged substantially as a unit and connected as such to the main frame 1, as shown, and table 25 previously mentioned may be supportedv on the feed frame and specifically on top of side walls 34; of frame member 33.

liars 35 with smooth flat upper surfaces are secured to the upper edges of incn'il'ier 34 and provide a slidew: y for the blanks in their novcmont of table 25, and :lorward portions of the bars 35 also provide the principal support for the stack S of blanks B.

The stack is guided by a. vertical. back plate 36, located in a channel in the front face of a holder 37 which is secured. to a cross bar 38, the ends ol which are supported in brackets 39 resting on side frame members 30, and by vertical. side plates 40 secured by suitable brackets 41 to cross barii To locate the blank stack longitudinally of the machine and also to allow for different blank dimensions in the longitudinal direction, the entire stack guiding structure may be adjusted by moving brackets 39 longitudinally on the frame members 30. For this purpose the bases of brackets '39 are provided with slots 4-2 (Figure 1) and cap screws 48 passing through the slots secure the guide of, as shown in Figure 2.

structure in the proper adjusted position. To allow for varying blank dimensions in the transverse direction of the machine, the

vertical side guides 40 are alsoadjustable laterally on bar 38-by means of slot and screw arrangements 44:, Figure 2.

The lower portion of the vertical back plate 36 is desirably of reduced width, as

shown in Figure 2, and the lower end 45 of this plate is located slightly above the level of the tops of bars 35 to provide a gateway for the exit of a blank; and said lower end also acts as a stop to prevent rearward movement of the next superposedblank. To provide for blanks of different thicknesses, plate 36 is arranged adjustably in its channel in the front faceof holder 37,

and to provide for convenient and'accurate ad ustment an ad ustlng screw 46 is provided, passing through lugs and 48 on the plate and holder 37 respectively. The

position of the lower end of the plate may be closely and accurately adjusted by turning the screw, and the adjustment fixed by means of a lock nut 49, and the plate may be additionally secured in adjusted position by screw 50 passing through a slot in holder 37.

The forward end of the stack, or especially of the lowerportionof the stack, may be additionally guided by short vertical guide rails 51, which are laterally adjustable on rods 52 and these rods are held adjustably in the lateraldirection of the machine by thumb nuts 53 an the ends of bars 54:,

I which pass through. sleeve sockets 55.011 lower portions of guide plates 40 and are secured in said sleeves for adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the machine by set screws 56. In this way an ample range of adjustment of the vertical front rails 51 is obtained for different blank dimensions in the, longitudinal direction of the machine and also to bringthe vertical. cdges'of the rails in contact withsuitable portions of the blank stack, for instance, with edges of certain. blank flaps or wings near the ends there- I 7 To facilitate plac- :ing bunche of blanks on the stack or to guide the lowerporthin of the stack between guide rails 51 and the back plate 36, the upper inward corners of rails 01 are beveled or rounded as at 57. I

A. blank feed slide tltlis arranged to re-- ciprocate upon rails 61, in thespace between bars 35. One or more blank-engaging or suction gripping devices 62, are secured to the upper surface of the slide. Although difierent forms of blank grippers may in some cases be used, suction grip 'iers are suitable for the purpose and are employed is the present embodiment of the invei'ition. Dach gripper comprises a thin flat top plate 63 provided with a central air opening 64:, Figure l. and a thin rubber cup or washer may be provided about the air opening to provide a lirm'grip on the under surtaceof the blank when air is exhausted through the opening 64 by means of a flexible air tube 66, secured to a nipple extending downwarc from the suction fitting. The suction fittings may be secured adiustably on the slide, and for this purpose their nipples are acconunodated by a longitudinal slot 67. The upper surfaces of the suction plates 63 are substantially flush with the upper surliaces oi bars 35 and the forward one of the plates has a beveled surface 70, the torward end of which is slightly below the level bars 35, so that the plate ill run sn'ioothly under the lower blank 01 the stack in the forward slide movement: and directly back of the beveled surface TO-is a blank gripping shoulder 71 extending slightly above the level of plates 63 and bars 35, to grip the forward edge o1 the lowest blank at the beginning of the feed movement. Desirably shoulder 71 is formed on a small plate 72 secured to suction plate (53 by screws 73 to permit the plate to be removed and refinished, or another plate to be substituted, when the shoulder 71 is damagez or worn.

The feed slide may be reciprocated by any suitable mechanism in proper relation to the movement of blank carriage 3. In the presout embodimentof the invention, the slide is connected by a bracket 75, Figure 3, to the upper stretch of a chain passing around a drive sprocket 77 on a shaft 78 and a1 trout idler sprocket 79 rotatably mounted in abracket- 80 pivotally secured to frame member 82 at 81, and adjusted by a screw 82 to properly tension the chain. Shaft 78 of sprocket 7'? has at one end a gear 85 engaging gear, 13 previously mentioned, which drives the carriage rack bar 7. In this way as the carriage moves forward, the u ppcr stretch of chain 70 moves rearward, carrying with it the slide 60 to position a blank carried by the slide upon the table at the moment that suction head ii: is brought over the blank above the table; and when the carriage moves rezuwmrd, the slide moves forward to a position under stack S, ready to receive another blank. I

To aid materially in separating the, lower blank from the one above it, and esp ially in the case of curved or buckled blan and those having laps or wings, for r 1 sons briefly mentioned above and more particula-rly explained hereafter, additional blank grippers are provided, which desirably, as in the present embodiment ot the invention in the form of suction. grippers, each include a rubber suction cup 91 mounted on a metal body 92, and each of the bodies 92 is slidably mounted on a rail 93. The rails are 0'? rectangular cross section, so that the suction bodies are supported irrevolubly but are free to slide longitudinally of the maosses? u SOCE is 101 on the ends of lovers 102 which secured to arock shaft 103 mounted in bearings 104- and provided with an arm 105 cain roller 106 engaging the peon a shaft 108, which is and a chain 110 from mentioned. The halls carrying riphery oi a cam 107 driven by sprockets shall; 21 previously 100 and their sockets 101 may be complete socket joints, but open or half-spherical sockets are provided as here shown, and the ball ends of the lovers may be held down in the socln by springs 112. i 1

Air openings are provided at the centers ot the suction cups 91, and these openings are connected by suitable pipe fittings 114 and rubber tubes 115 to an air valve body 116; air tubes 66 previously mentioned are also connected to the valve body 116. Since in the present case there are two of the tubes (50 andalso two of the tubes 115, each pair of tubes may be connected by a Tfitting ll'l to one chamber in the valve body. 1A valve stem 120 is provided for each valve chamber and the stems are provided with springs 121 and are actuated by bell crank levers 12 2 and suitable cams 123 adjustably mounted on shaft 108 previously mentioned. A connection 1242 leads from the valve body to any suitable exhaust pump or a tank in which low pressure is maintained, and the cams are arranged so tl'iat suction is appliedto the suction cups 01 and also to the suction heads 65 on the feed slide, and the suction is released by rc-admitting atmospheric pressure, at the proper time.

A. typical cardboard blank B for the feeding of which this mechanism is especially well adapted, shown in F i gure 5. In the production of such blanks from cardboard, whether they are oi plain rectangular outline, cornered or provided with wings or flaps as shown in the drawing, and especially when out from rolled material, the blanks are almost unavoidably warped in one direction, this warpage or curvature occurring in planes perpendicular to the blank surface and parallel to the line 66, Figureo, as more particularly indicated in a slightly exaggerated way in the sectional view, Figure 6, which is in the plane 6 6 of Figure 5. If for any reason the blanks are not appreciably warped, bunches of the blanks may be bent by the attendant before they are and such blanks when arranged in a stack frequently have the flaps or corner laps e of one blank more or less inter-locked with the end wings d of the'next adjacent blank, or the adjacent blanks are more or less interlocked or stuck together in the ways mentioned in the earlier part of this specification. These characteristics of typical blanks have been objectionable in previous feed mechanisms and have interferred with the proper separation and advance of themdividual blanks. In automatic box machines of the type here shown, and as disclosed in other conditions, as sufliciently explained above, caused'the next lower blank to adhere to the topmost blank, resulting in the transport of two blanks to the point of assembly with the cover paper or the dropping of one of the blanks somewhere en route, or,

other diiliculties. In other types of feed mechanism the sticking or lnterlocking of the blanks and the warpage of the blanks has )revented 31'0361 feedin In the aresent feeding mechanism, however, when the blanks are warped, the warpage 1stakenadvantage of to insure complete separation of the blanks and lnsure the feed of only one blank at a time from the stack.

In the present invention when the blanks are warped, as above explained, they are arranged with the concave. side upward as clearly shown in Figure 8. For warped blanks, also, rear vertical guides substantially inline with the front vertical guides 51 may be provided to space the rear face of the stack slightly away from the gate or center guide plate 36. The arrangement of suitable vertical back guides for curved blanks and the cooperation of the blanks with such guides and with the gate or stop plate 36, are fully explained in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 to 11. When the blanks are flat their rear edges may rest directly against H the vertical plate or stop plate 36.

After a blank is delivered to the suctionhead .4, slide (30 advances (toward the left i in Figure 3), and at any convenient time before the slide runs under the stack levers 95 are raised, bringing suction cups '91 car ried by them into Contact witlrthe bottom surfaces of end portions of the bottomblank.

The suction 'cups'are at this time in their: foremost position, that istoward the left in Figure 3, being so held by springs 96; Further upward movement of levers 95 now, lifts the stack slightly, sufiicient to provide clearance for slide 60 which advances be; neath the stack without any frictional contact between the lower blank and the upper surface of the slide, and therefore without any wear on the suction cups carried by the slide, and the slide is then brought to rest with shoulder 71 of suction plate 63 below the forward edge of the lower blank and ready to engage that edge when it is properly depressed. At this time both of the suction devices 61 and'62 are beneath the central portion of the blank and in contact with it. At any suitable time after levers 95 are raised to bring suction cups 91 in contact with the bottom blank, suction may be applied by the suction of the proper air valve torsec ure the'blank portions to the suction devices. After the slide has come to rest just before a feed action,' a's above explained, cams 123 on shaftlOS operate the appropriate valve stem 120, and suction is applied to the suction devices on the slide. The central portion of the blank is thus tightly held upon the slide 60 and end portions of the blank or portions to each side lllil of the longitudinal center line 6-6, Figure 5, are firmly gripped by suction cups 91.

The outer ends oflevers 95 are now dropped by the rotation of cam 107 and the bottom blank by the downward movement of suction cups 91 is caused to assume a curvature ..in vertical planes at right angles to the original curvature, that is, in planes parallel to the section line 77, Figure 5. This curving of the bottom blank in the transverse upon the next blank in the stack. tion of the lower part of the stack'and the bottom blank at this time is 'diagrammatl, cally shown. 111 Figure 7,'wh1ch s alvertic'al,

section in the plane 7--7 of Figure 5. Gentral portions of the blank adjacent ;to the longitudinal line 6.-6, Figureo, are by this movement straightened out and the rear ward edge of the blank, that is, the edge of wing b in the particular blank described, is straightened out and broughtbelow stopedge Q5 of plate 36 and the front edge of the blank is also straightened out and brought down, into engagement with the feed shoulder 71. The downward bending o'r curvature of end portions of the blank also, as clearly shown in Figure 7 pulls the end flaps 01' Wings of the bottom blank well down away from correspon'ci iiig parts of the next upper blank, especially since the corner laps e of that blank remain in a'n elevated position b'ecause that blanki'etains theoriginal curvature as shown in Figure '6. A very completean'd effective blank separation is thus'obtained in spite oi' any original sticking ofthe blanks or interlocking of their flaps, this result being accomplished by the changein the curvature of the lower sheet while the next upper blank retains originalcurvat'ure, and also by the actual vertical removal of endpo'rtionfs of the lower blank from those of the one above it. Vi hil'e suction is m'aintained all of the suction devices, slide new commences to move rear- Ward .(t'otlieright iii Figure while suction [head 4 is" moving forward. For small pal-t, of this slide movement suction is maintained in the suction devices 91 and they travel along with the blank, "sliding on the rails 93 against the an pf springs. 96. This condition continues at least until the rear eol e of the blank is well away from the forward corner of step-edge 4'5. During the sliding movement of the bottom blank away from under the stack, the next upper blank and/ all those above it are positively prevented from moving rearward by engagem'entfof the rear edges of all of them including th'e' next to the bottom blank with the front face of the vertical guide plate this engagement of the neXt to the lower blank being insured by the retention of its originalcurvature. After the bottom blank has moved su fHcient distance to clear'the guide plate the valve controlling suction cups 91 is operated to cut off suction and restore atmospheric pressure and the suction cups are immediately released hem the blankand ar pulled back by their springs 97 to normal as ionand at an suitable time durin th'e r enlainder 'oit' the cycle the cups are again elevated contact with the stack bottom by upward movement of levers '95. The rearward movement of slide 60 continues, with the blank firmly ,held on it by the grip of the suction cups '61 and 62 and alsobytiic positive push of shoiilder 'll in engagement with theforward blank edge, until the blank is located properly upon table 25 and suc tion head-4 is brought 'downupoh it, and thereupon suction is cut o'ti from the suction device 62, releasing the blank from the feed slide; the. blank. is seized by the suction head 4 andrai sed, slide 60 advances while the suctionhea d is carried rearward by its carriage and the cycle is repeated indefinitely, a blank being positively separated ease? and advanced irom the stack at each "feed movement of the slide with practically no skips or other faulty feed actions.

While the feed mechanism proper as above described is well adapted to and especially valuable in connection. with an auto-' m'atic box machine of the character described, it is evidently capable of use with or adaptable to other machines, or any system oi? operations wherein it is desired to very positively, accurately and regularly teed individual cardboard blanks from a stack with practically no possibility of skips or other errors.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 show modified feed mechanism also adapted for arrangei'nent as part of another type of blank working or blankhanidliiig machine, or for attachment to blank handling or blank working mechanisms in general. The main frame 130 may be a part of a machine for handling or operating upon cardboard blanks, or it may be the frame of the feed mechanism proper and arranged to be applied to or connected as an attachment to a blank handling or blank working machine. Feed rolls 131 and supported by frame uprights 133 may be arranged as a part of the feed mech anism itselflor may be incorporated in the blank handling or blank working machine, as may be convenient or desirable. The feed rolls 131 and 132 may be driven from a suitable part of the feed mechanism proper or from the machine to which the feed mechanism is attached; and therefore the driving arrangement and other details of the feed rolls are not particularly shown.

The black stack S is arranged and guided substantially as in the previous example, the rear and side guides being identified by the same numerals as in the previous 'eXai'npl'e.

he front guides 135 consist of pairs of vertical rails or strips, each pair being vertically adjustable by slots 136 in the tr: sverse supporting members 137, and screws 138 passing through the slots and engaging the vertical guide rails, The supporting members 137 are secured adjustably to lon dinal bars 5s in the previous example. The described arrangement is suitable for plain rectangular blanks and the vertical guide rails 135 'without lateral adjustment e cept tor the adjustment afforded by the movement of vertical side guide members 40, suiiice to properly support and guide blanks of varying width ,(in the transverse direction of the machine). .Other front guide members may be provided for connered or other peculiarly COEllZOlIl'GCl blanks.

Y hile the blank stackmay be partly sup ported on stationary members, such as bars 35 of the previous described structure, it is sufiicient in many cases, as in the present particular embodiment, to support the stack entirely upon a feed slide 140, which is separate block 1 16 located in a cliaunel. 1417 on the top of the slide and adjust-ably secured by means of a screw 14-8 passing through a slot 1419 in the block and engaging one of a series of threaded holes in the slide at the bottom of the channel. By inserting the screw in a selected one of the holes 150 and then by moving the block longitudinally on the slide, a great variety of adjustments may be made, to suit the blank position and also to allow for different blank dimensions longitudinally of the machine.

The slide has depending lugs between which one end of a link 156 is pivotally connected, and the other end of the link is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 158fulcrumed at 159 on a frame bracket, and the lever is operated by a link 160, the rearward end of which is provided with an eccentric strap 161, fitting around an eccentric 162 on an operating shaft 1(l3,'whieh is driven in any suitable way, for example, by a chain or belt 164: connected to a suitable rotating part of the machine in which. the feed mechanism is incorporated or to which it is attached, so that the slide is reciprocated by the described linkage in proper unison with the. operations of the blank Working or blank handling machine.

livotally connected to the slide at each side thereof, is a lever 170, the central portion of which. is depressed and the outer end of which is provided with a bearing 171 slidably mounted. on longitudinal rod 172. Each of the rods 172 has its ends supported in a forked bracket 173 car'riedyby an upright bar 174;, arranged for vertical. reciprocation in guides 175. The lower ends of bars 174 are connected by a transverse bar 176; a link 177 is connected to this bar near its center and the upper end of the link pivotally connected to a lever 178 fulerumed at 179 and provided with a cam roller 180 engaging a cam track in a cam body 181, fixed on shaft 163. This shaft, as already stated, controls the movements of slide 1 10 and the cam track is arranged so that the upright bars 17% and the outer ends of lovers 170 are elevated at some time before the commencement of a feed movement of the slide, and'are depressed just before the feed movement commences, for reasons later, explained.

One or more suction cups 184;, substantially similar to the suction cups 91 described in connection with the previous example,

are carried by each of the levers 170. in

many cases one suction cup on each lever is sutlicient and onlyone is illustrated in the present instance. Desirably, the metal bodies 185 which carry the suction cup are mounted for longitudinal adjustment on bars 186, which are carried by brackets 187 secured to the lovers, so that the suction cups may be properly positioned longitudinally under desired portions of the blanks,

or in relation to blanks of different; lengths in the longitudmal duration of the machine. Each suction cup has a central air passage and the air passages are connected by suite. ble nipples and flQX'llJlG tubes 190to any suitable air exhausting appliance, such as a tank in which low pressure maintained, or tea suction pump 191, the piston of which is connected b a link 1952 to a lever 193, fulcrumed.

at a convenient point, for instance, on out-.

ward end of sl'iaft 179, and the lever is provided with a cam roller 19 1 engaging a cam track in a cam body on shaft 163 pre viously mentioned. The cam track is designed so that the pump piston makes a suction stroke commencing just before the advance movement of the blank slide, and suction is maintained during a considerable part or all of the advance movement, this being easily possible because the feed. movement of the slu'le is usually quite short,

being only i-iuliicient to carry the rearward ed go of a blank from its normal position in the stack to the line of contact of the feed rolls 131 and 132', whereupon the blank is 3 by the rolls and further advanced to the machine with which the feed mechanism ell-operates. The cam track is further designed so that suction is relieved and at IllOSljJl'lQllG pressure restoredbefore or substantially at the end ofthe slide feed stroke.

Suitable valve mcchanisn'i, in the previous example, may, of, eomrse, be used instead of the min in to control the suction.

Flat blanks may be handled by the described mechanism, but the operation will be described in eoiu'iection withwvarped or cur ved blanks.

to provide vertical rear guide, members llU-f similar to the front vertical guide men'ibers 135. shown, located considerably away from the longitudinal center of the blanks and considerably away from the slide and also -lo rated in a longitudinal direction of the machine so as to hold the rear blank edges slightly spaced away from stop plate 36 as clearly indicated in dotted lines in Figure These rear vertical guides are, as clearly 10'. In the initial separating action, in which suction cups 184 engage and move downward, end portions of the bottom blank, these end portions are drawn down below the vertical rear guides 190 and as the original curvature is eliminated and the blanks are straightened out in the longitudinal direction of the machine and therefore lengthened somewhat in that direction, there is no resistance to such movement or elongation of the blank by contact with the central vertical guide plate 36. The central portion of the rear edge of the blank is then closely adjacent to the lower end of stop plate 56 but is drawn down below edge 45 and is straightened out in the longitudinal direction of the machine ready to pass through the gateway or space between edge as, and the slide, this space being usually only sufiicient to permit the passage of a single blank. The initial separating action in the case of flat blanks is substantially the same, except there is no original deformation of the blank and it is simply bent in a manner indicated, and this bendingcauses no elongation of the blank in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and therefore'the rear vertical guides 198 may be omitted and the rear blank edges in the stack may rest directly against plate 36.

When the slide is in its fore 1055i position, shoulder 1&5 engages the front edge of the bottom blank. Just before or as the slide commences to move rearward in the feed direction, levers 170 being at this time elevated and the suction cups 184. in contact with the bottom surface of the lower blanks, suction is applied to the cups causing them to adhere tightly to the blank. The levers are now dropped to the position shown in Figure 9, and end portions of the bottom blank are bent downward, and when the blank is curved or buckled in the manner previously described, the curvature or buckle is eliminated or reversed, and central p'ortions of the blank are flattened out perfectly .-:traight, in the longitudinal direction of the machine, so that the central part of the blank is free under the stop edge 45 and through the gate, while the next su-per-posed blank stopped by frictional contact with the blank above it, or by positive engagement with the stop plate 36 just above edge 45. During the feed movement of the slide, blank is firmly held by the suction cups in the described c'urved position and is positively moved by shoulder 145 in contact with its forward edge, and after a short feed movement the rearward edge of the blank is caught by the feed rolls and then the blank is advanced by the feed rolls to other instrumentalities which act upon it, and just before or as the slide feed movement is completed or about the time the blank is seized by the feed rolls, suction is cut off from the suction merges"? cups 184, releasing the blank. The slide then moves forward (to the leftv in Figure 11), while suction cups 184: are still in downward position and therefore free from any sliding contact with the bottom blank of the stack during the forward slide movement, and at about the time the slide comes to rest in its forward position levers 170 are again elevated, bringing the suction cups in contact with end portions of the bottom blanks, There is in this case no necessity for further lever movement to lift the stack, the central portion'of which may be in slidingengagement with the slide at all times. The suction cups being carried by levers which are pivotally secured to the slide, move with the slide at all times, the outward ends of the levers sliding on the rods 172. I

Feed mechanism embodying the invention may be employed merely for feeding the in dividual blanks from the stack, regardless of the operations which are performed upon the blank; for example, the blanks may simply be fed to an apron which carries them to a point of utilization. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 to 11, cooperating rolls 200, 201, carried by frame uprights 202, may perform certain operations, and these parts may be considered as initial inembersgof the blank working inachine with which the feed mechanism is in this case associated. A shelf 203 supported on frame uprights 133 and 20 2 serv es in this case to direct the blanks from feed rolls 13L and 132 to the rolls, 2010, 201.

The invention, embodied in suitable form's, two of which are here described, works with great accuracy and certainty and many thousands of blanks have been separated and fed in rapid succession without a skip or erroneous feed action, and in fact the mechanism will feed blanks correctly without skipping except where its proper operation is prevented by outside causes, such an imperfect or torn blank which may not be detected by the operator in placing the blanks in bunches in theistacks. Even in the case of defective blanks, there will be no skip or improper feed action in most cases. unless the defect in the blank is serious and sufficient to render the blank unfit for use for purposes for which it is intended.

The method has been sufiicientlyexplained in detail in t'hedescription of the media nism. Briefly reviewed, the method com.- prises in its salient features the bending of one blank, or the movement of portions of an end blank of av stack in the general direction of blank thickness to effectan initial separation, and then removing the end blank in a generallyedgewisc direction away from the stack. Otherwise stated, the method comprises changing the curvature or buckle of the end sheet of a stack of curved blanks to effect initial separation of blank portions ltll) curved end blank ot a slack of such blanks to eliminate the original curvature or to produce. aditlercnt curvature which may have a (i'()nve:\'1t' opposite to the original convegrity, and may also be along a. ditlerent line or axis from the original-axis o'l curvature. and then moving the blank away from the. slack in. a generally edgewise d irection.

. lVith reference to the blank, words indieating dimensions or directions are usually employed with reference to the location of the blank in the machine. For instance, while the direction or dimension indicated by the line 6 6, Figure 5, represents the shortest or blank, the blank in this case so placed in the machine that line 66 is in the position of the feed slide center line. Some. times the blank is so placed in the machine that its narrower dimension is transverse the machine and its longer dimension represented by the line 77 is in line with the slide. In that case, it the blanks are curved or warped, the warpage would usually be opposite to that shown in. Figure 5.

I claim:

1. A. method ot separating and feeding in dividual curved sheetxblanks having wing tori'nations from, a staekof such blanks,

- comprising bending opposite winged portions of a single blank at the end of the stack away from. the next. adjacent blank sufficiently to rectify the curvature and to clear the wing formations oil the end blank from said next blank while retaining a central portion of. said end blank substantially in contact with said next blank, and then moving said end blank away from the stack substantially ednewise while maintaining said winged portions in saidbent and separated positions.

A method of separating individual curved blanks of flexible sheet material from a stack of such blanks, consisting in bending an end blank of the stack to produce a curva-' ture in another direction from the original curvature sullicient to rcctify'such original curvature and at the sametime to separate I end portionsot said. blank from the next adjacent one, and then moving said end blank by sliding it away from the stack substan tially in the direction of one of its curved edges.

A method of separating individual curved blanks ot' flexible sheet material. from a stack of such blanks, COllSlSlllllQf 1n bending an end blank ot the stack to produce a sub stantially opposite curvatru'e on an axis transverse to that of: the original curvature and at the same time to separate opposite end portions of said blank from the next adwidthwise dimension of the jacent one. and then moving said end blank by sliding: it edgewise away from the-stack substantially in'the direction. of one of its curved edges; v

4;. Blank teed Inechanisnrotthe classdw scribed, comprising a holder for a stack of blanks, feed means for engaging and moving successive end blanks of the stack away from the stack by substantially edgewise movement, grippers adapted to engage portions of said end blanks at opposite sides of said feed means, and means tor-moving said grippers to engage saidend blanks and for then retracting the griplwrs tobend said blank portions away from the stack to facilitate the stated'edgewise feeding operation.

5. Blank teed mechanism of the class de scribed, comprising a holder for .a stacker blanks, feed means for-engaging and moving successive end blanks ot the stack away from the. stack by substantially 'edgewise movement, grippers adapted to engage portions of said end blanks at opposite sides'of said feed means, and means for moving said grippers to engage said end blanks and for then retractin; the grippers to bend said blank portions away from thestack to facilitate the stated edgewise feeding operation, and means ing successive end blanksof the stack away from the stack by substantially edgeiwise movement, grippers adapted to engagepor tions of said end blanks at opposite sides off saidfeed means, 'and'ineans for moving said grippersto engage said end blanks and for then retracting the grippers to bend said.

blank portions away from thestack to :taeili 1 tate the stated edgewise feeding operation, the grippers lOOll'lfI arranged and operated comprising; a stack holder, a feed slide arranged for reciprocation belowthe holder and provided with blank-advancing means, means for Reciprocating; the slide, suction grippers arranged at opposite sides of the slide.

means supporting said grippers for move- I ment tovvard'and from the stack, and means. for operating said supporting means to bringsaid grippers in contact with a bottom blank 7 he so that in their blank-engaging movement they. elevate the stack substantially to facilil in and then by retreat to depress end portions oi: said blank clear of the staek to facilitate edgewise delivery of said blank by the slide;

8. Feed mechanism of the olass described, comprising a stack holder, a. feed slide arranged for reciprocation below the holder and provided with blank-advancing means,

means for reciprocating the slide, suction grippers arranged at opposite sides of the -slide, means for supporting said grippers for movement toward and from the stack, means for moving said supporting means to elevate the suction grippers to engage the bottom blank and raise'the stack substantially to facilitate movement :of the slide beneath the stack, and means for then depressing said supporting means to cause beiiding of end portions of the bottom blank away from the stack.

9. Feed mechanism of the class described, comprising a stack holder, a feed slide arranged for reciprocation "below the holder and provided with blank-advancing means, means for reciprocating the slide, suction grippers arranged at opposite sides of the slide, means supporting said grippers for movement toward and from the stack, and means for operating said supporting means to bring said grippers in contact with a bottom blank and then by retreat to depress end portions of said blank clear of the stack to facilitate edgeWise delive-ry of said blank by the slide, said supporting means also including means admitting of movement of said suction grippers in the direction of slide movement and While in engagement with the blank. 7

10, Feed mechanismot the class described comprising a blank stack holder, a slide ar ranged for reciprocation therebelmv and having blank engaging inc-ans, means for reciprocating the slide, suction gripper supports arranged substantially at opposite sides of the slide, means for. raising and lowering the supports, means on the supports for holding suction grippers and ad mitting movement of said grippers in the direction of slide movement as ave-ll as substantially vertical movement with said supports, and means for applying suction to the grippers while clevated to engage end portions of a blank and to maintain the suction while the grippers are depressed and moved with the slide antbblank to maintain the blank in vstated condition (hiring at least a portion-oi? its :movement from lhestack.

11. Feed mechanism of the class described comprising ablank stack holder, a slide arranged for recipro *a-tion therebelmv "and having blank engaging means, means for reciprocating the slide, suction gripper supports arranged substantially at'oppesite sides of the slide, means for raising and lowering the supports, means on the supports for holding suction grippers and admitting movement 'of said grippers in the direction of slide movement as well as substantially vertical movement with said sup ports, means for applying suction to the grippers While elevated to engage end portions of a blank and to maintain the suction While the grippers are depressed and moved With the slide and blank to maintain the blank in stated condition during at least a portion of its movement from the stack, and means for then breaking the suction to "free the grippers from the blank.

12. Feed mechanism of the class described, comprising a stack holder, a teed slide arranged for reciprocationbelow the holder and provided With blankedgc engaging means, suction grippers on the slide, means for reciprocating the slide, other suction grippers arranged at opposite sides of the slide, means supporting said other grippers for movement toward and from the stack and means for operating said supporting means to bring said grippers in contact with a bottom blank and then by retreat to de press end portions of said blank clear of the stack to facilitate edgewise delivery of said blank by the slide.

13. Mechanism tor separating and feeding individual blanks from a stack, comprising astack station, a backstop arranged. to permit passage of a single blank and to re strain others of the stack, a slide arranged for to and fro movement below the stack, a shoulder thereon arranged to engage the edge of the bottom blank, suction grippers, one arranged at either side of the slide, means for moving the suction grippe s to Ward and from the stack and for contr ing the suction effect to depress end portions 05? the bottom blank and free them from the next superposed blank, and means by which the suction grippers move along with the slide in its feed movement.

14-. Mechanism for separating and feed ranged to permit passage of a single blank andto restrain others of the stack, a slide arranged 'for to and fro movement adjzment toyan end blank of the stack, a shoulder thereon arranged to engage the edge of an end blank, suction grippers one arranged ateither side of the slide, means for moving the suction grippers toward and from the stack and for controlling the suction effect to depress end portions of the end blank ol the stack, separate them "from the stack and eliminate the original blank CI-UVHUZH'C and straighten its central longitudinal q iortion for passage beneath the stop, and mean by which the suction grippers move along with the slide in its feed movement.

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county Kings and State of New York this 20th d of July, A. D. 1923.

HARRY BRIDGMAN SMITH. 

